Broadcasting (July - Dec 1940)

Radio Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary Notables Join in Washington Dinner RADIO received an impressive sendoff on its second 20 years at a 20th Birthday Party held Nov. 26 in Washington at the Willard Hotel, with more than 600 broadcasters, industry personalities, government officials and public figures participating in tlie festivities. The Washington celebration, desigTied as an official commemoration of radio's first 20 years, highlighted the nationwide 20th birthday promotion sponsored Nov. 11-30 by the NAB. The party was sponsored by NBC, CBS, MBS, NAB, RMA, Electric Institute of Washington, and the six Washington stations — • WRC, WMAL, WOL, WJSV, WINX, WWDC. Washington celebrants heard Neville Miller, NAB president, read letters from President Roosevelt and Wendell L. Willkie, Republican presidential candidate in the recent campaign, both of whom paid hearty tribute to the broadcast industry and emphasized the importance of maintaining free radio. They also heard a special transatlantic pickup from London on which correspondents of all three national networks exchanged questions and answers with A. A. Schechter NBC director of news and special events. And they were entertained with BMI nausic, furnished by John Charles Thomas, famous concert artist, and Johnny Messner's orchestra, along with well-known radio and stage acts. Mr. Willkie's Letter Offering his congratulations to the American broadcasting industry for "a splendid and outstanding performance," Mr. Willkie declared in the letter read by President Miller : "Those closely associated with radio broadcasting in this country can take pride in this achievement, as well as in the fact that they have kept the ether waves clear for free expressions of all shades of thought. As one who has just come through a national political campaign as a major participant, I can bear testimony to the fairness and high sense of responsibility of those in control of our radio facilities. May it ever be so. A free radio, along with a free press, constitutes the cornerstone of a system of free men." Praising the industry's development. President Roosevelt declared: "The growth of broadcasting as we know it in America has been one of the most outstanding achievements of this generation. I reaffirm to you my belief that democracy will not tolerate any attempts at domination or control by the Government at the free and open avenues of public information." [See opposite page for full text of President's letter.] Special features of the Washington program included a special MBS broadcast of American Forum of the Air, conducted by Theodore Granik, on which appeared a group of nationally known figures discussing the past and coming 20 years of radio development. On the spe 20YEAR VETERANS LIGHT BROADCASTING BIRTHDAY CAKE cial transatlantic pickup, an unbroadcast program between BBC studios in London and the Willard Hotel ballroom, Mr. Schechter carried on via a public address system a 15-minute conversation with Edward R. Murrow, CBS London correspondent, Fred Bate, of NBC, and John Steele, of MBS. The program of entertainment featured, in addition to Mr. Thomas and two orchestras. Jay C. Flippen, Howard & Shelton, Ramona, all wellknown radio personalities, along with Bobby May, juggler, and The Pitchmen, musical novelty trio. Prominent Guests Prominent guests attending the 20th anniversary party in Washington included: Jesse Jones, Secretary of Commerce; Frank Mullen, NBC vice-president and general manager; Senator Sherman Minton; John Benson, AAAA president; Bishop James E. Freeman; Harold Lafount, NIB president; Rev. Samuel McCrea Cavert; Maj. Gen. J. 0. Mauborgne, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army; Rabbi Edward Israel; Chairman James Lawrence Fly, of the FCC; Commissioner Norman S. Case of the FCC; Walter W. Van Kirk, of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America; Thomas Burke, chief, Division of International Communications, State Department; Joseph D. Jamieson, president, White House News Photographers Assn.; Senator Elbert D. Thomas; Edward Klatiber, CBS executive vice-president; Senator H. H. Schwartz; Senator C. Wayland Brooks; Paul B. West, president, Assn. of National Advertisers; Gen. George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, U. S. Army; Theodore C. Streibert, MBS vice-president; Breckenridge Long, Assistant Secretary of State; Rev. Maurice S. Sheehy; Commissioner Harry C. Mitchell, of the U. S. Civil Service Commission; Bond Geddes, RMA executive vice-president; Commissioner Paul A. Walker, of the FCC; Commissioner George H. Payne, of the FCC; Ward Stringham, president. Electric Institute of Washington ; Commissioner T. A. M. Craven, of the FCC; Albert L. Warner, chairman of the executive committee of the Radio Correspondents Assn. Veterans Light Candles During the program veterans of two decades and more in radio A partial list of those actively identified with broadcasting who attended the Radio Birthday Dinner is published on Page 64. lighted the candles on a 3-foot birthday cake, paraded through the banquet hall. Noted among this group (shown in picture above) were Meade Brunet, RCA Washington official; Mr. Duncan, RCA, Philadelphia; S. D. Gregory, NBC manager of managed and programmed stations; A. L. Ashby, NBC vice-president and general counsel; Arthur B. Church, president of KMBC, Kansas City; E. M. Webster, FCC assistant chief engineer; Commissioner T. A. M. Craven, FCC; John W. Guider, Washington attorney; E. C. Page, Washington consulting engineer; A. B. Chamberlain, CBS chief engineer; Mrs. LeRoy Mark, owner of WOL, Washington; C. M. Jansky Jr., Washington consulting engineer; Louis Windmui3er, Washington representative of Fairchild Aviation Corp.; E. K. Cohan, CBS technical director; G. W. (Johnny) Johnstone, radio director. Democratic National Committee; H. G. Dorsey, U. S. Coast & Geodetic Survey; Ralph Perry, WPRA, Mayaguez, P. R.; Maj. Gen. J. 0. Mauborgne, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army; George 0. Sutton, Washington radio attorney and fornner engineer. Code Is Lauded Unable to attend the Washington function, the following telegram was sent to the NAB from Mrs. H. V. Milligan, president of the National Council of Women: "On behalf of the National Council of Women of the United States, I want to congratulate the radio industry on this important occasion. Coincidentally with its rise to one of our major industries has come an awareness on the part of women of the vast debt they owe radio. The higher level of our national culture is due largely to the contribution radio has made to the American people through its many educational broadcasts of every description. We want to take this occasion, too, to express our gratitude to the NAB for its adoption of the code which insures to all Americans the dissemination of the truth, without prejudice, and in a spirit of fair play. We believe that a free radio is the very essence of true democracy and pledge our continued support to the end that free radio shall continue in the United States." In connection with the birthday celebration, the radio committee of the American Civil Liberties Union forwarded a message of congratulation to NAB President Miller, coupled with an expression of agreement with the underlying principle of the NAB Code, particularly as it applies to the question of controversial issues, and a reaffirmation of the Union's opposition to Section 606 (c) of the Federal Communications Act. Speaking as the Washington representative of the Union's radio committee, H. Thomas Austern, Washington attorney, declared: "We deem the existing statutory power of the President to take over the operation of all radio stations in time of national emergency or war as potentially dangerous — so dangerous, indeed, that we have advocated congressional action to deprive the President of this power. There seems to be no argument for such a blanket control of radio in time of emergency that wotild not apply equally to the press. The radio code apparently insures a degree of self -regulation sufficient to make unnecessary the exercise of any such sweeping and drastic power by the Federal Government. In these circumstances we think that legislative action to limit the existing statutory grant of power is warranted." Over the country individual sta ■ tions reported various 20th Birthday Party promotions to Broadcasting. KTRB, Modesto, Cal., conducted a listener contest with prizes for the best letters reminiscent of the early days of radio. KFRO, Longview, Tex., cooperating with the local public schools, conducted an essay contest on "The American System of Radio," offering students $21 in prizes. KSO-KRNT, Des Moines, observed the anniversary period by giving away a radio a day to listeners at whose homes the station's "Radio Gift Man" called. KVOO, Tulsa, Okla., carried a series of six special 20th anniversary programs stirveying the progress of the industry and presenting leading Tulsa educators and radio personalities. Page 14 • December 1, 1940 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising